Call to Order – Chairman White called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Board members present were J. B. White, Eddie Roberts, Jr., Eddie Ford, Burt Jones & Harvey Norris. Staff members present were Marcie Seleb, general manager, and Alyssa Hopson, clerk to the board.
Approval of Minutes from May 21, 2019 Meeting – Mr. Roberts made a motion to dispense with the reading of, and to approve, the minutes from the May 21, 2019 meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Ford and approved unanimously.
Resolution Concerning Priority for Sewer Services – Board members reviewed a resolution concerning priority for sewer services. A motion was made by Mr. Ford to adopt the resolution. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. A copy of the resolution is attached and made part of these minutes.
Reconsider Sewer Request from LGS Holdings – Ms. Seleb presented a revised design for a proposed development on the north side of Georgia Highway 16 West, and east of Interstate 75. Over the last month, total residential lots were reduced from 977 to 162.
LGS Holdings has asked the Authority to reconsider providing residential sewer. Mr. Ford made a motion for Ms. Seleb to write a letter stating that the Authority will provide water and sewer for the industrial and commercial development on a first come, first served basis contingent upon capacity being available at the time property is available for development, and, further, that the Authority cannot commit to sewer service to any residential portion of the property. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. Mr. White abstained due to a possible conflict of interest because he owns property in the immediate area.
ACCG IRMA Renewal Pricing – Ms. Seleb reported that the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) property insurance total annual premium for July 2019-June 2020 is $46,127. This is a 4.5% increase over FY 2019. Mr. Jones made a motion to accept the renewal quote. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
Proposals for Truckstop Way Sewer Engineering by Ingram and Associates – Ms. Seleb presented a $37,000 sewer engineering proposal from Ingram and Associates. The engineering services would be to complete design of a gravity sewer main from Georgia Hwy. 36 to Buckner’s Restaurant on Bucksnort Road. Mr. Jones made a motion to accept the proposal. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously.
FY 2020 Budget Discussion – Ms. Seleb presented a draft of the fiscal year 2020 budget. The budget anticipates a total o f $3,911,300 in income, $2,227,000 in capital expenditures, and $3,031,800 in operating expenditures. A motion was made by Mr. Ford to adopt the budget. This was seconded by Mr. Norris and approved unanimously. A copy of the complete budget is attached and made part of these minutes.
Manager’s Report
Construction – Ms. Seleb reported that the Authority’s crew has completed the Airstrip Road water main installation. Lot lines and right of way limits have to be established before taps are set. The Highway 16 water extension from Jackson Road to near the Spalding County line set to begin in a few weeks. Pyles Plumbing is set to begin the gravity sewer line in the same location in mid July.
Microplastics Testing – Ms. Seleb reported the Authority had participated in an international study by Eurofins, Inc. Finished water from the Burford Water Plant was tested for microplastics with the result being “none detected”. She also stated that it has been proposed that the University of Georgia use the funds leftover from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (EPD) bromide testing grant to do multiple tests for microplastics in waterways leading to the Ocmulgee River. EPD is currently reviewing this proposed grant modification.
Operations Statistics – Ms. Seleb went over water production, water loss and customer statistics for May. The average daily finished water pumped to the Authority, Jackson and Jenkinsburg from Burford and Stewart plants was 2.3 million gallons per day, with a maximum of 3.1 million gallons per day. The rolling twelve-month average loss was 10.3% with the current monthly average loss at 20.2%. The total amount of finished water pumped in May by each plant was: Burford – 69 million gallons and Stewart – 3 million gallons.
Water billing for May was $236,736 up 2% from the previous month and up 8% the same month for the previous year. Sewer billing for May was $45,991, down 5% from the previous month and down 15% from the previous year.
Total water accounts numbered 5,676 at the end of May with 5,211 of those being active water customers. Three subdivision water meters and seven regular taps were purchased in May.
There were 187 total sewer accounts at the end of May with 185 of those being active sewer customers. No sewer connection was purchased on the existing system.
Financial Report – Ms. Seleb reviewed the financial summary for Water & Sewer Operations, Capital Recovery Fees, and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for May 2019.
Water Operations income for May was $208,274 with $151,906 in expenses. Water capital recovery fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2019 thus far was $28,573 with $0 in expenses.
Sewer Operations income for May was $50,808 with expenses of $54,929. Sewer Capital Recovery Fee revenue for Fiscal Year 2019 thus far was $11,008 with $0 in expenses.
To date, $2,762,430 has been collected in 2013-18 SPLOST revenue, with $2,618,929 expended.
Total cash on hand at the end of May was $10,579,902. This is $105,626 under the June 30, 2018 balance. Copies of the May 2018 financial summaries, the consolidated fund balance sheet and the consolidated fund income statement are attached and made a part of these minutes.
Adjourn – A motion was made by Mr. Norris to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. This was seconded by Mr. Roberts and approved unanimously.